Plant of the week: Corydalis

Try these woodland perennials with enchanting spring blossoms

Early-flowering woodland plants are the mainstay of the spring garden, providing splashes of colour before more robust, sun-loving perennials catapult the garden into summer. Among the daintiest bloomers are corydalis, commonly known as fumeworts, which belong to the poppy family.

They come from Northern Europe, through the Himalayas and into China. Among the 300 or more-strong clan are a number of low-growing and spreading perennials, which provide masses of slender, bird-shaped blossoms over many months in white, red, pink, purple, yellow and, most strikingly, electric blue. They’re useful as the various species and varieties flower in succession from March through to June, with some providing blossom for weeks.

Their foliage is deeply lobed, blue-green to dusky purple and bright yellow in some, providing a contrast to the flowers. C. flexuosa has spawned a number of varieties, but goes dormant in summer, starting into growth again in autumn. C. elata and its hybrids with C. solida are more reliably evergreen and flower for longer. They spread via creeping stems which produce bulbils at the joints, such as C. flexuosa or, as with C. solida, from a fleshy tuber.

Many are easily propagated from fresh seed and may self-sow if happy, so small plants can be lifted and moved elsewhere or grown on. Carefully divide tubers when dormant or in summer after flowering. They prefer damp, but not constantly wet soil with plenty of organic matter in semi-shade or full shade, so are ideal for overcast areas or beneath overhanging shrubs. Slugs and snails can be a

problem, so take precautions as the plants grow in spring.